Stuck over bus stops

Lynx, sign company can't agree on contract for new shelters

The Lynx regional bus system has about 4,500 stops in Central Florida but fewer than 500 shelters for the people waiting in all types of weather for their ride.

John Savey, president of Signal Outdoor Advertising of Orlando, is willing to build 200 covered stops for free in Orlando for Lynx -- and possibly give the agency $200,000 annually for the right.

But Lynx is balking at the proposal, causing Savey to complain, "I don't know where we are, other than limbo."

Here's the holdup: Lynx is trying to decide whether it should build shelters with its own staff, as well as determine whether there should be a uniform contract for building shelters with all the jurisdictions it serves. That's Orlando, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.

Orlando has a proposed agreement for the future that includes how often the stops should be cleaned and maintained and in what areas advertising can be placed on the sides of the shelters. Orlando also made it clear that any advertising income within its limits essentially should be plowed back into more shelters.

Roger Neiswender, Orlando's chief transportation planner, said the city is against using the money for extra routes or buses because advertising revenue can rise or fall with the economy. That could result in service cuts over time.

"That's a painful process," he said.

Savey thought he was close to signing a deal with Lynx in Orlando during the summer, but that was delayed indefinitely in September, after board members decided to look further in the arrangement. No decision is likely before a board meeting in December.

Lynx spokesman Matt Friedman said, "It's a very touchy subject, and everyone wants to make sure it works."

Savey and a lobbyist hired by his firm, Dick Batchelor, have argued that a workshop should be held with board members to discuss what is going on and whether an agreement can be reached. But agency rules forbid meeting with a company after it has formally entered a bid.

"Nothing is being done that we can see," Savey said.

Lynx figures it could make $486,000 or more a year if it took over construction of shelters, plus the sale of advertising panels, on 300 shelters it hopes to build with $7.6 million it has received in federal stimulus money.

But Savey said Lynx should spread the stimulus money to private contractors, saying, "We think Lynx is in the people-moving business, not the advertising business."